Jobs to Tick Off the List Before Fall

Now is a great time to get working on any home improvement jobs before the cooler weather sets in. Whether it’s taking preventative measures to make sure the ice and snow doesn’t do a number on your home or just routine repairs that you’be been putting off, these next few weeks will be the perfect time to give your house a spruce up.

Probably the most important home maintenance job for this time of year is to take a look at your gutters. Before we know it, tree debris will be falling and the leaves will be clogging up gutters and downspouts. If you’ve ever thought about installing gutter guards on your home, now is the time to do it. They will protect your gutters from the leaves and help you to avoid that cumbersome autumn clean-out.

One of my favorite ways to update a home is to install a new entry door. A lot of houses in our area still have wood doors, which are prime for serious heat leakage. Installing a new door made from fiberglass will help to retain warmth and give you a great, contemporary style. They even come in wood grain or solid color finishes to keep with the look and feel of your current exterior.

Now is also one of the best times to look at vinyl siding, which can dramatically improve the appearance of your home while reducing overall maintenance and upkeep. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one third of new homes in the U.S. are built with vinyl siding, and that number continues to rise every year. Why? Vinyl siding is durable, long lasting and comes in a variety of finishes to suit a homeowner's personal style. My favorite part is that it never has to be painted or stained, and there is no rotting or insect problems that can come with traditional wood cladding.

Finally, with winter on the way, it's time to take a look at your windows. When I visit a house, I will often use a thermal camera to see how much heat is being lost, and old wood sash windows are one of the main culprits. New vinyl windows are great in terms of energy efficiency and heat loss reduction, and at our house, we love the tilt in sashes for easy cleaning.

Being a homeowner requires a lot of maintenance, but the investment is worth it to keep you and your family comfortable all year round. It's also key to ensure you get the best possible price on your home if you ever decide to put it up for sale.

What is your favorite tip for giving your house a facelift? I'd love to hear from you. Happy Labor Day everyone!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

An Entry Door Buyer’s Guide – Tips from The Pro

A front door is one of the most defining features of a house. It welcomes people into your home and sets the stage for what to expect on the inside.  An entry door can really increase the curb appeal of your home, and it generally recoups between 80 and 95% of its cost in resale value. So if you’re thinking about an upgrade, here is what you should consider.

Entry doors are generally made of wood, fiberglass or steel, and each material has both positive and negative factors. To make the comparison simple, I am going to focus on three important factors: energy efficiency, maintenance, and price. 

Fiberglass is the newest kid on the block and it’s a favorite because of its flexibility. The material gets a tick for energy efficiency is generally a top performer for retaining heat and air conditioning, and reducing your carbon footprint. Fiberglass doors can also be made to look quite unique in terms of style, even mimicking wood or metal to ensure your personal aesthetic can be achieved. Fiberglass doors are also very sturdy and generally stand up to most kicks, bumps or denting. But it’s not all gold stars for fiberglass. Under extreme impact or weather conditions, fiberglass has been known to crack, and although it’s not common, it is something to consider. Also, these doors tend to be a bit more expensive than your average steel option, but less expensive than most wood models. 

Steel doors are a popular choice because they are relatively low cost and provide one of the strongest options available on the market. From a security perspective, a steel door is a reliable choice and it will stand up to most wear and tear with ease. Steel is also relatively easy in the maintenance category as it really only needs to be repaired when it's scratched or dented.  Conversely, weather can play a part in the lifetime of a steel door as they do have the potential to rust when hit with severe and persistent rain, snow and other wet weather conditions. Additionally, steel doors are huge heat conductors, to the point where we often don’t suggest pairing one with a storm door if it’s facing south as the heat that collects between the two doors has the ability to melt parts of the door or even shatter the glass.

Lastly, there are wood doors, which are probably the most aesthetically pleasing. In addition to looking beautiful, they also resist scratches and are very difficult to dent. Of course, with the good comes the bad, and with wood, the biggest negatives are its price and upkeep. Wood is easily the most expensive of the three options, and the material does need to be painted or stained every few years to ensure it still looks like new.

No matter which type of material you choose, you want to ensure you’re purchasing a door from a reputable manufacturer and that you have a rock solid warranty. Also, be sure to choose a professional, recommended contractor for the installation, as the fitting of the door can make all the difference in terms of performance. Most of the time, the air that flows through the home generally comes from the gaps and spaces between windows and doors, not the product itself. There’s no use spending good money on a new door and have a bad install impact its performance. Don’t forget, if you have a question, I’m here to help!

Go Green with Energy Efficient Windows

Energy efficiency is continuing to gain popularity as more and more people are making the conscious decision to take environmental matters into their own hands. As I visit homeowners and talk to them about their options, I’m excited to report that people are taking proactive measures to reduce their carbon footprint, often asking me for my advice on ways to make their home a place that’s friendlier to our planet. One of the first suggestions I often make, in addition to ensuring they have proper insulation, is replacing old windows with a modern, energy efficient option.

Here in the Bristol area, many of the 1950’s home have old, drafty aluminium windows that let tons of heat and air conditioning escape during the winter and summer months. These old windows are expensive to keep in the house because they let so much air pass through. This means that homeowners (especially seniors who are more sensitive to the temperature,) are constantly cranking up or down the dial to make the house more comfortable.  It’s a lot of money and energy wasted for no good reason. 

These days, many window and door products are certified by EnergyStar, a joint program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to help consumers better understand the benefits of using energy efficient products and appliances. But what makes a window energy efficient in the first place? There are a few components, and different manufacturers use different options based on the environment and climate where the windows are sold.  

Firstly, the frame will be made of high-quality materials (such as fibreglass, vinyl, or wood) that are durable and reduce heat transfer. Then there is the glass, which should be at least two panes, separated by a gap to absorb sound and provide a stronger barrier between the inside and outside. In addition to multiple panes, the glass will also often have a Low-E (or low emittance) coating, which makes the window more effective in diminishing heat transfer, and reduces ultraviolet light from entering the home, which can damage carpets, rugs, and fabric furniture.  These three important factors are key to ensuring hot and cold air stays where it belongs, depending on the time of year. Plus I love a window with a tilt-in sash, which makes cleaning both the inside and outside of the glass a breeze.

It’s important for us all to help the environment, and creating an energy efficient home is a great way to do your part while reducing your power bill at the same time. If you’re not sure which windows are right for you, talk to a professional or visit energystar.gov to get more information on the options available.